Improvement in lamp-shades



' J- MCFARLAND.

Lamp Shade.

No. 53,320. Patented March 20, 1866.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH MOFARLAND, OF CLINTON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAMP-SHADES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,320, dated. March 20, 1866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josmn MoFARLANn, of Clinton, in the county of DeWitt and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lamp-Shades; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is the metallic frame which forms the top of the shade. Fig. 2 is a shade completed.

The object of this invention is to produce a shade or reflector to surround the chimney of a lamp which will not become heated and charred by heat; and it consists in so constructing a shade as to leave an open annular space about the chimney through which heated air can pass, thereby both preserving the shade and the chimney by keeping both comparatively cool.

It is well known that the use of lamp shades and chimneys is attended with great expense, owing to the cracking of the chimneys and to the burning and char-ring of the shade. These results are brought about from the high heat produced by the lamp, since the air that sur rounds the chimney of the common shade becomes intensely heated, and snfficient room is not provided for its escape between the chimney and the top ofthe shade. Hence the shade soon becomes charred and worthless.

It is very seldom that chimneys break at the momenta shade is set on them, unless the blaze of the lamp is unreasonably high. The ordinary cause of such breakingis found in the confined heated air surrounding the chimney, and in its sudden removal whendisplaced by a wave of fresh cold air from a door or window.

In my invention. D is the paper shade. c designates the metallicrin g which passes down, over, or around the lamp-chimney, which is held therein centrally by springs) in the usual way. The lower edge of the metallic ring is not joined to or attached immediately to the edge of the shade D, but is connected thereto by means of bars b-eight in number in this example-which bars extend downward from the ring 6 to a lower ring, g, of larger diameter than ring 6.

The rings 0 and g, the springs], and bars I) are cutout from a blank and afterward swaged to their proper forms and inclinations, or the springs f may be attached to an independent ring, which may be soldered or otherwise connected to ring 6.

Ears a are left on the upper edge of the ring g for the purpose of securing it to the edge of the paper shade by turning them over on it, as seen in Fig. 2.

The inter-spaces 0 between the bars I) and upper and lower rings may be of greater or less extent, as desired by the maker. Instead of having them entirely open, as in this example, they may be covered by perforated plates of paper or metal, or by reticulated work or wire-gauze, or by any other device which will give the air free passage and allow a constant circulation thereof around the chimney, so that the air shall not be there confined.

It will be observed that by means of this construction the glass chimney is not liable to be unduly heated, because the air as it is heated by the lamp is free to pass upward above the shade, and that for this reason the shade is also kept from being charred. Another advantageous result of this construction is found in the fact that light can pass upward through the spaces and be diffused in the upper part of the room, thereby relieving it of the dismal gloom prevailing where close shades are used. Instead of injuring the reflective power of the shade and lessening its advantages, it seems to soften the light, and produces a more agreeable and pleasant condition oflight in an apartment.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In lampshades, leaving a space or spaces about the ring which receives the chimney of a lamp, in order to allow a free circulation of air, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

JOSIAH MOFARLAND. Witnesses:

JOHN J. MOGRAW, ALEX. W. MORRIS. 

